Introducing......Dear Dolly Friends

  

 

I have ALWAYS loved dolls! My husband and three grown sons think I'm going through my second childhood, but I tell them I'm just finishing up the first one properly!!  I enjoy composition and bisque baby dolls,  Ginny dolls, children's dishes, and most anything from the 40's and 50's. 

 

Dolls ~  Accessories ~ Restoration

Ila Marvel, Doll Doctor

In October, 2000 I received instruction in the repair of composition and bisque at a G & M Doll Restoration Seminar in Virginia Beach, VA.  I received my advance restoration certification in May of 2002.  My philosophy in repairing dolls is "less is more"...in other words...repair only what REALLY needs repair to retain the original elements of that particular doll. 

After completing studies with G & M Doll restoration, DEAR DOLLY FRIENDS was born.   Here is a little guy that looked pretty sad when he arrived! But after some patching and sanding (and sanding...and SANDING!) he was ready to paint and try on his new sailor outfit! He looks sooo much happier!  His owner thinks so too!

A local news affiliate filmed a story at the Dear Dolly Friends Doll Show & Sale in June 2007 and at my doll studio! 

 

This dolly had been "force fed" a few too many times by an enthusiastic little mommy!  She also needed to a trip to the dolly beauty parlor to have her hair done!  After a few days with Dear Dolly Friends, she is looking beautiful again!

 

 

Brother, by Horsman, was looking pretty sad.  Attic living led to many problems with his composition and paint.  Some mending on his cloth body....a LOT of sanding and repainting brought him back again!

 

 

 

 

 

This Eegee doll from the late 1950's/early 1960's had been well loved!  Some of her lashes were missing and her hair was mostly GONE!  I replaced the missing lashes.   A curly wig was cut to a shorter length, curled and styled appropriately.  She was dressed in a vintage dress and is "all dolled up" now!!

 

 

This poor Armand Marseille 370 was nicknamed "Alice" after her former owner.  Alice had some rough years and ended up in the attic for decades.   When her owner passed away, Alice was given to a neice.  She needed eyes, her shoulderplate was repaired, her wig was cleaned and curled, her leather was repaired, her original clothing was laundered.

 

 

Isn't Alice lovely now?

 

Every doll has potential!  There's a saying "If you have the HEAD, you have the doll!"   Some may ask "Is it worth the money?" to have work done on a doll.   That is in the heart of the owner.   Can we put a price on memories?  Often when I return a doll to the owner and see the look on her face when she sees her doll, I feel that I haven't restored a doll---I've restored a CHILDHOOD!

 

 

DOLLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!